Ethinyl estradiol / norelgestromin and Mood Swings: What Users Say (Page 5)

• Gee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 19, 2021

For Birth Control "So far I’ve used it for 2 months. I’ve had a few new spots since I hardly break out, but I have been stressed lately, so who knows if it’s because of the patch. My boobs also grew, I’m not sure how much since I only wear bralettes which come sized XS/S. I also noticed I’ve become much more emotional, and my sex drive has skyrocketed."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 13, 2012

For Birth Control "I've only been on my first month of this patch. But I hope my review will still help. I usually put it on my butt cheek and alternate sides each week. The first week was fine, the skin around it after taking it off was kind of irritating, but that was no big deal. The second week, nothing unusual happened, my sex drive increased, but I would wake up in the middle of the night for some reason. The third week was the worst week, though. I had mood swings, light cramps, and anxiety. This fourth week, it'll be my off week, I hope my period comes normally (since I have been having an abnormal cycle for the past 2 years). So far, I am satisfied with Ortho Evra. I am usually forgetful, changing it every week is very convenient!"

• Ken...
• May 23, 2018

For Birth Control "I'm on month one of Xulane, my last patch of the month. I love this method 'cause it's so easy. BUT let me tell you, I get the craziest mood swings, and my emotions are all over the place. There are days when I'm randomly sad over the silliest things or just don't want to deal with people, PMS but times ten! I get nausea here and there too, not too often, but when I do, it really sucks. My breasts are extremely tender, sometimes I'll wake up in the morning to my boobs feeling so heavy and sensitive. Also, my appetite... I eat a lot! Now for my periods, I haven't gotten it, but most of the time I feel like I'm on it. I'll get minor cramps or get bloated and fatigued. I will probably get off the patch, which is unfortunate 'cause of how easy it is, but it's just not for me. I have every negative symptom."

• Gyp...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 8, 2016

For Birth Control "I used the patch for 5 months. I really enjoyed not having to take a pill every day, and it was extremely effective. Yet the mood swings were HORRIBLE. I am a fairly unemotional woman, but the patch made me unbelievably weepy for no reason at all. My boyfriend of 4 years was kind enough to point out that that wasn't normal me behavior. As for the rest of the details, I had no issues with headaches, nausea, or breast tenderness. The patch left a bit of a residue after you took it off and constantly pulled up on the corners, but I only really had one time when I was seriously worried that it might fall off. Very often there was fabric residue along the edge of the patch, and I would usually have ingrown hairs or small pimples growing under it."

• Mis...
• August 1, 2016

For Birth Control "I gave this patch a 3 because I want to be as honest as possible. I'm 26 years old and switched from oral BC to the patch 4 months ago. Only pros: not having to take a pill every day and that I'm not pregnant. The cons, however, are endless. I'm always tired. I'm normally an active person, but now all I want to do is stay in bed. Severe mood swings; my sister and boyfriend have pointed out that I'm always either depressed or behaving like an angry monster. I've put on 15 pounds, and my breasts have gone up a cup size (not good since I was already a DD). I never got cramps before the patch; now they're so bad I can barely move for the first 2 days of my period. I also have severe back pain even though I haven't had any injury whatsoever."

• kim...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 3, 2013

For Birth Control "I chose this as my first form of birth control when I was 16. I'm now 20. While it was effective and efficient for me, my hormones were through the roof. I was very emotional and cried a lot. I would recommend this for someone who does okay on high-dose birth control. I cried and begged for my doc to switch me to a low-dose birth control and ended up on the pill. I'm terrible at taking it, but still no baby, thankfully."

• Som...
• November 13, 2016

For Birth Control "The patch causes itchiness, but after a while, it goes away. I noticed my breasts are more full and perkier, which is nice, but I did notice I am more emotional on the patch and have a headache here and there. This patch works great other than that. I recommend this to someone who doesn't like using pills and to someone who prefers a much easier and simpler method."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 24, 2019

For Birth Control "I have been on the patch for about four months now after getting my Mirena IUD removed. My husband and I are not ready for children, so I figured this was the next best option. I am 27 and have been on multiple forms of birth control before the IUD and have a history of anxiety and IBS. The first 2 months, I experienced breast tenderness and basically 2 periods/month while my body was adjusting. Slight stomachache and fatigue, nothing I couldn’t handle. But in the last 2 months, I have felt major mood swings and lethargy, and my anxiety has been a lot worse. I started tracking my symptoms and found that I actually felt better on my period in terms of anxiety and nausea than when I had the patch on. I am going to go off of it next week because I think the hormones are making me crazy. I’ve never experienced anything like this before. Effective for stopping pregnancy, but not the birth control for me."

• Ngu...
• April 3, 2016

For Birth Control "I'm currently on my sixth month with Xulane. I previously had Ortho Evra, which I absolutely loved. However, after it was discontinued, I took 6 months of the pill and one month of no birth control to reset my hormones. I remember how much I loved Ortho Evra and how happy I was all the time. With Xulane, I have mood swings regularly and I experience some weakness in my extremities sometimes. But I don't have irregular bleeding or migraines. I originally loved the Ortho Evra patch because my regular monthly migraines disappeared. Now I only get them about once every three or four months. I am a bit more irritable than my last patch. Maybe in a few months I'll find an alternative patch. But for now, I'm doing well on Xulane."

• Lau...
• February 14, 2016

For Birth Control "Coming on to the third month of wearing the patch, and I loved it, but now I am so depressed. I have never had depression before. But I can't stop crying, like four times a day, and I am experiencing such bad mood swings. Really not great."

• Jam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 26, 2019

For Birth Control "I'm on my third patch, I started it the first day of my period! I've been on my period since I started it, also been extremely anxious and getting pain in my chest (I'm already on antidepressants). I'm tired constantly and very emotional! The only plus side for me at the moment is the actual patch isn't a problem. I'm gonna persist with it for a little longer and see how things go because it's gonna be a bit of a shock to the system like a pregnancy would be, so gonna see if things settle down."

• Oks...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 16, 2018

For Birth Control "It's horrible!!! I've been on vacation and spent lots of time swimming, and the patch peeled off on the second day..... My period was extremely heavy after this. The patch affected my mood in a bad way. I was angry and irritated."

• Anonymous
• June 30, 2011

For Birth Control "I thought I was having anxiety until I spoke to my doctor and found out my birth control was the problem. For the last year, every month around my period, I would get very emotional. If I would drink around that time, it would make it worse, like really bad. Out of control. It was starting to affect my relationship with my boyfriend. I thought I had anxiety, but not all the symptoms match. I spoke to my doctor, and she immediately had me take the patch off. I will go on the pill once I have my period again."

• Mar...
• August 24, 2017

For Birth Control "I feel okay about this BC method because I hate taking pills and the other methods I don't really like because of the fact we'd keep them inside our body (the ring, the umbrella, the one that's inside your arm). And then the shot causes thinning of the bones. But the negative thing is that it causes me to be super emotional and get really bad mood swings. I sometimes get bad migraines and nauseousness. I also feel sensitive to fumes and smells."

• Mar...
• August 24, 2017

For Birth Control "I feel okay about this BC method because I hate taking pills and the other methods I don't really like because of the fact we'd keep them inside our body (the ring, the umbrella, the one that's inside your arm). And then the shot causes thinning of the bones. But the negative thing is that it causes me to be super emotional and get really bad mood swings. I sometimes get bad migraines and nauseousness. I also feel sensitive to fumes and smells."

• Kay...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 21, 2018

For Birth Control "Worked well at preventing pregnancy, but horrible side effects. I have been experiencing crippling depression, mood swings, and anxiety, as well as slight weight gain. Up until being on this birth control, I was the happiest and most positive person, I was motivated and loved life... I recently got off and quit using it because I am realizing what it is doing to my body. The good does not outweigh the bad, and I will be quitting birth control for good."

• Mom...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 17, 2022

For Birth Control "I've used the Ortho Evra patch for the past 2 years, and I absolutely love it. I tried out different birth controls, such as the pill and the NuvaRing, and it was always horrible. They caused me heavy mood swings and a very low sex drive. With the NuvaRing, I had the feeling my vagina would burst. This has completely changed since I've started using the patch. No mood swings, normal sex drive, no additional weight gain, no more acne, almost no period pain, and a very short period (only 3 days instead of 7+ days before). The only thing is that the patch gets itchy from time to time, but I change the position every week (on the butt cheek). It always depends on how your body reacts to it, but I would definitely recommend giving it a go. Makes your life much easier."

• CiC...
• August 28, 2017

For Birth Control "Started Xulane a week ago. The day after I put the patch on, I began having mood swings. I assumed it was because my period had just started. As the week went on, I continued having crying spells and being snappy. By day 5, I noticed discomfort at the patch placement site. I also started feeling dizzy and was super irritable to the point it was affecting my job. Thankfully, I didn't have to work on day 6. I felt hungover most of the day with a migraine headache, dizziness at times, still very irritable, and pain starting from the application site and spreading across my low abdomen. As the day went on, all of the symptoms intensified. The abdominal pain became so bad I couldn't take it anymore, I took the patch off. Within hours, I felt better."

• Din...
• February 19, 2018

For Birth Control "I have been on the Xulane patch for three months now, and I haven't had any major problems. I had nausea on the first day I used it, but it settled quickly. The only thing I will say is that it does get a bit itchy, and it peels a bit around the edges all the time, which gives me a bit of anxiety, but I haven't had any scares. My periods have gotten lighter, and the duration of it is less too. No weight gain, less acne, no mood swings - it's great so far! I'd recommend it if you're not prone to getting headaches or nausea."

• Anonymous
• February 15, 2012

For Birth Control "Although the convenience of only once a week is fabulous, the patch made me a complete emotional mess, there is no other way to say it. I was on the pill for 20 years with no side effects at all, so it has to be the extra estrogen. I could not even wait out the first month before I simply had to take it off. I suppose it may have gotten better, but I was irritable, oversensitive, depressed, anxious, and generally felt like I was going to come out of my skin. It also increased my appetite noticeably. Within hours of taking it off, I felt more calm and more myself."

• Coo...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 24, 2022

For Birth Control "I've always been sensitive to any hormonal birth control. I tried pills and the ring, both no good with horrible side effects like weight gain or mood changes. I was afraid of going on Xulane, but I had no other choice being this non-invasive, so I gave it a shot. I've now been on it for 2 years, no side effects except for dry skin on patch areas. The first month I had some sleepiness and a lot of hunger, but it went away shortly. Love this! Don't knock it till you try it. It's just a sticker. I recommend doing it on your lower abdomen and switching sides every week."

• Anonymous
• March 19, 2012

For Birth Control "I am currently on day 5 of the patch and have had very, very light spotting, but have been an emotional wreck all day. I think this is due to work-related stress too, though. I thought it would be just another form of contraception that is useless to me, but after reading everyone's reviews, I feel so much better! I have PCOS, so I am using it to regulate my periods. I also feel better that some people got pregnant as soon as they stopped using it."

• jes...
• February 27, 2013

For Birth Control "I have been on Ortho Evra for 3 years. I love it. I have recently noticed some mood swings and random breakdowns. I have snapped at customers and my husband. I never know where they come from or why until one co-worker pointed out that it could be my birth control. I have a normal period. Every month I start on Wednesday, stop on Sunday. I love that I know when it's coming every month! Thinking of switching to Seasonique for the lower periods due to endometriosis. I know it's not good to be on one certain kind for a long period of time."

• Ran...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 13, 2018

For Birth Control "I used the depo shot before I changed to the patch due to the significant change in my sex drive. On the depo shot, I had no sex drive entirely. Then, the good side about the patch is that it's super convenient, and it got my sex drive back! However, I completely lost my appetite, and my mood swings were crazy. Also, as someone who had some depression history (even if it was just minor), this patch brought my depression back, which was horrifying! I was not able to sleep well and felt constantly sad, empty, and under a lot of self-hate. That's just not me! And it's been bothering my daily life and my work really, really badly. Today, I took the patch off and switched to the NuvaRing, as the doctor said the ring has less hormone. I hope the NuvaRing would make my depression stop..."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 16, 2016

For Birth Control "I've been on the patch for a month now, going on my 2nd. This is also my first time using any birth control, and so far I'm happy with it. It definitely has done its job with preventing pregnancy. I started on a Monday. Tuesday morning, the 2nd day of use, I was very nauseous for just a little while, and it went away. After that, it was mostly just my poor boyfriend dealing with my mood swings. I was pretty emotional, as expected with all those hormones, and it didn't last long. Aside from that, no other side effects since week one/two. It's perfect for just remembering it once a week. It has stuck very well to the arms. I'll also mention that I got pretty bad cramps before my period. Not sure if that was a side effect, but they were worse than normal."